If you're the kind of player who lives only to slaughter players twenty levels below you, and then camp over their corpse, we've got news for you. First off, you're a bit of an a-hole. Secondly, you might not like the PvP system in LOTRO. There isn't one&#Array; as such. That is, you can't join a PvP server and fight anybody around you - you're all on the same side in LOTRO, so that wouldn't make sense.

However, to itch that player-killing scratch, LOTRO implements a unique feature called Monster Play. Once you hit level 10, a special port opens up, allowing you to take control of one of Sauron's evil minions. A level 50 evil minion, no less, although a level 50 Monster isn't as powerful as a level 50 player. You can then fight other players using their main characters - if they're brave enough to enter the designated PvP area called the Ettenmoors. Unfortunately, right now there aren't a lot of good guys of a high enough level for us to see what the Monster Play is really like. You'll have to wait for our second review in three months for a more detailed analysis.

At times you'll simply head for the highest hill, surveying the vast landscapes around you.

LOTRO wouldn't be an MMO if it didn't launch without a Troll-load of issues. So LOTRO must not be an MMO then. We can't think of a single MMO launch that has been so problem-free. Seriously, the servers are stable, there have only been a handful of broken quests, and the stuttering we experienced at launch appears to have been an issue with X-fire. It's been a remarkably smooth launch experience (Vista crashes notwithstanding&#Array; but that's Vista for you).

And now on to the problems of the game. Hmmm, funny thing is, at this early stage in the game, it's really hard to find any. The biggest issue some have is that it's not reinventing WoW's wheel. Bugger 'em, I say. LOTRO has taken all that's good about WoW, given it years of polish and lathered it all up in a back-story that I actually give a damn about. The review isn't over yet though - we'll be revisiting the review in three months to see if the quest to destroy the ring has the depth and breadth that MMO players demand.